Exhibitions & Events
I'ts official as I've now got my Guinness World Record Holder Certificate (via SkyArts TV Portrait Artist of The Year - as well as so many awesome memories of an absolutely amazing day with 199 other Artists live in London (&thousands online) Saturday 28th Oct '23 painting an A3 size portrait of Sir Lenny Henry in 1 hour!!. Also got selected to meet and sketch Sir Lenny with a few other lovely artists hour before we started the world record painting attempt. He was great and funny, particularly when he found out I used to live in Birmingham too lol. Yinka Bokinni Sky TV presenter during the filming of the attempt was also really sweet and encouraging. To top it all Sir Lenny commented on liking my initial sketch (done one on one while chatting to him) and final painting - particularly due to slant of his glasses being how he often wears them One of my most memorable painting day’s - still have to pinch myself it was real and that I managed to even paint in the hour with all the excitement, meeting so many great encouraging artists, Sir Lenny and the pressure of being filmed with only 1 hour to paint & only had 2weeks portrait practising & not used Acrylics for a while so pleased with how my painting came out on the day :-)
I was thrilled to have been selected as a Wildcard Artist for Sky Arts Landscape Artist of The Year 2024 television show/competition. My heat was filmed at Hever Castle, Kent in summer of 2023. Due to be Feb 2024 (Sky Arts TV). Apparently thousands (highest numbers ever) applied from England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland so I was chuffed to have been selected as one of 50 wildcard painters for one of the 6 heats. It was an amazing very long/very hot/sunny day. Great fun meeting lots of other fabulous artists, the judges, presenter, and the super friendly and professional crew. I really enjoyed myself. An A3 sized pen and watercolour painting in 4 hours with so much going on, crew filming, judges watching etc was a challenge. I finished a painting (personally feel -not one of my best- but still felt accomplished) and as Stephen Mangan said -"good practice for" me - before I "apply again and get to be a Pod Artist in future"- thanks Stephen. I was so glad I was persuaded and challenged myself to enter. I’m not allowed to share any photos of my finished painting or any other artists finished paintings etc until after programme has been aired but given permission to share this info so far..Watch this space for more after Feb 2024....
Hampshire Open Studios 2023 Exhibition. Joined by JKSilver Jewellery inside Karen's Garden Studio. An enjoyable 10 days with sales, lots of visitors, generally great warm weather and lots of lovely interesting conversations. Raised nearly £400 at evening auction/party event and from art sales (some works kindly donated by other local artists/ donations during exhibition for area Rowans Hospice Charity. So not much time for any painting for a few weeks lol :-)
Yellow Edge Gallery Spring Art Show Exhibition March 2023
Hampshire Open Studios 2022.
10 days with nearly a hundred visitors. Sold paintings, sketches, cards and took some commissions. Had another local Fareham artist Emma Trickle join me in garden for a couple of days, and generally good weather. So enjoyed taking part- and was a happy very tired Artist.
Fareham 70th Anniversary Art Group Exhibition 30/31st Oct 2021
I enjoyed taking part in the Fareham Art Group 70th Year exhibition in Titchfield, Hampshire. It was the First time exhibiting with the group for me since joining.
On display were 4 of my framed paintings, several folio (unframed) paintings and about 20 cards. I was very pleased to have sold 3 unframed paintings and lots of cards.
My main paintings were Watercolour & pen coast local area and Sussex Land and Seascape paintings representing my love of the media and the joy I take in painting land/seascapes with positive memories for me. I will also be putting in a varied collection of cards.
There were over 350 other paintings, lots of crafts items on display from other talented Fareham/Hampshire artists, So it was well worth taking part and with lots for the hundreds of visitors to view and buy. So overall a great weekend event.
Solo "Coast" Exhibition August 2021
It was my first time exhibiting alone and taking part in HOS and despite being initially nervous I really enjoyed talking to all the visitors. I had 103 people visit over the ten days. During and just after the event I sold 10 framed, 2 unframed paintings, nearly 60 cards and got 3 commissions. So my first proper SOLO Exhibition was a great personal success for me.
There was a variety of coastal themed Watercolour, Acrylic and Oil paintings and a variety of cards for sale.
The coast has always been a major part of my life and several positive life changing events have occurred due to a desire be near the sea. Therefore, it was appropriate that my first solo exhibition was mainly coastal themed inspired scenes. All of the paintings had happy memories associated with the places which I had relived in my mind when I painted them.
Studio space “Design can be chaotic, your studio doesn't have to be”....
Getting a proper studio space (from the Smart Garden Office company summer 2020 ) gave me the motivation to create more art and undertake a few other projects. It’s fantastic to have the space to spread out, get messy or just to have a space to store all those gorgeous art supplies in without them cluttering up the home. My gorgeous pup also has a bit of his own space to join me - usually on my feet whilst I'm painting. I’m also looking forward to having people in the studio soon.I love the quote I found ref the Studio space ...... although sometimes It does have to be a bit chaotic - or as I like to say Organised Chaos of Work in Progress lol.....a bit like my dyslexic brain...
